What's Warlord up to?

[EarlyWarGamer]

I buy and build by theater. I already have a resin Matilda II for my BEF troops. If this kit is suitable for Western Desert then I shall add it to my list. If not, then I shall pass. I know there are differences between 1940 and 1941/1942 Matildas. I'd rather get it right. Or as close to right as possible.

I currently have no opposing force for my desert Italians. I have been building them up slowly over time, when models I wanted became available or went on sale. I was thinking of going Commonwealth for the desert as my next force, but I also like the idea of Finnish (so my Soviets have another force to face). No real rush, as I still have plenty of models to build and paint.

[ultravanillasmurf]

Good points Ripley.

EWG: I will probably buy at least one (I have one for the BEF http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2012/12/matilda-in-high-heels.html), but if it has the options for both BEF and Desert I might be tempted for two (my Perry Eighth Army need some heavier support than the Crusader, especially when the Rubicon Panzers make their appearance).

[EarlyWarGamer]

Nicely done UVS! I have the same Warlord tank, but have yet to assemble it.

And I agree, if the plastic Matilda II can be built both ways, I would replace the resin for a plastic. If not, and it is only suitable for the desert, then I would only really need the one.

[ripley]

It's to bad Warlord don't post the CAD/ early sculpts of their tank kits and the sprue layouts like Rubicon do . A lot of the BA plastic tanks have many obvious errors/ omissions  that just jump off the page to those of us who live and breathe tanks .   

[Pinky]

Glad matilda isn't Shitaleri.
Disappointed the M13 is Shitaleri.

As compared to what?  The quality of the Italeri 1/56 scale vehicles is variable, but the best ones are as good as anyone else's.

[EarlyWarGamer]

This is just word of mouth, but I have heard that the Italeri kits are not really 1/56. They are some other scale that they feel is "close enough" to work. And that scares me totally way from their kits.

Unless I find a review where some modeller or gamer says they are really 1/56 ... I just never even consider them. My hobby dollars are limited, and if I were to drop $30 on a kit and find out it doesn't fit with my other models, that is $30 wasted. I cannot afford that.

[ripley]

The only vehicles I have from both Italeri and Rubicon are the Panther and Tiger I . They are about as close as your going to get having 2 different companies making them . Even in 1/35 scale a Tiger by one company will have tiny size differences in various parts from the other half dozen companies making a Tiger  kit . Italeri kits on left , Rubicon on right



Rubicon top, Italeri bottom



In the overhead view of the Tigers , you can see the Italeri turret has thicker sides than the Rubicon kit , thus making the turret 2mm wider , is that going to be a deal breaker ? Personally in this scale if the vehicle is close in length , width and height bu 1 or 2mm its good enough for me . Obviously something 1/2 inch too long or wide will be rejected unless it's the only game in town ( in plastic ) .For example , I found a 1/48 scale plastic  T-70 tank model kit  by Micro - Mir which I ordered out of the Ukraine . Until someone makes one in 1/56, this one looks like a winner to me . Hasn't arrived as yet , but kit dimensions make it a little smaller tha my 251 half tracks which the real thing was IRC . They also make a T-80 tank and a T-90 which is the 70 with a twin .12.7mm machine gun AA turret , so if this kit looks the part , I'm ordering a few more

[EarlyWarGamer]

I have no problems with a few millimeters here and there, a missed rivet, a shovel missing, light on the wheel details, etc. But I have it in the back of my mind that an Italeri kit that was 1/72 was offered up by Warlord as 1/56. That is just wrong.

I buy models to game, and it is okay if they are a little on the small size (especially when compared to the rather beefier infantry figures). But 1/72 is going too far.

[ripley]

Most 1/72 scale kits don't have open hatches and very few have the molded in one piece type road wheels unless they are the war game series of kits . The Italeri kits I've built don't resemble the Italeri  1/72 scale kits I've seen . On the other hand some of the kits under the Warlord name look to be , IMO ,  PSC kits up scaled  ( Uni Carrier , 251 , T-34s ? )

[H0ffmn]

This is just word of mouth, but I have heard that the Italeri kits are not really 1/56. They are some other scale that they feel is "close enough" to work. And that scares me totally way from their kits.

Unless I find a review where some modeller or gamer says they are really 1/56 ... I just never even consider them. My hobby dollars are limited, and if I were to drop $30 on a kit and find out it doesn't fit with my other models, that is $30 wasted. I cannot afford that.

That is true when it comes to Italeri's buildings and coastal bunker kits released by Warlord. but not to their 1/56 vehicle kits.
I have to also agree with Pinky, that the best Italeri 1/56 kits are very good.

[ultravanillasmurf]

This is just word of mouth, but I have heard that the Italeri kits are not really 1/56. They are some other scale that they feel is "close enough" to work. And that scares me totally way from their kits.

The only one I have to hand is the Sherman (I and IV).






The Sherman IV is the original Rubicon one, the Sherman I is the Italeri/Warlord M4.

I remember comparing the resin T34 and Cromwell and they are close enough to be the same scale.

I will see if I can dig out the Rubicon/Warlord T34s and the Panthers.

Of course once I get round to building the Rubicon M4...

[ultravanillasmurf]

Most 1/72 scale kits don't have open hatches and very few have the molded in one piece type road wheels unless they are the war game series of kits . The Italeri kits I've built don't resemble the Italeri  1/72 scale kits I've seen . On the other hand some of the kits under the Warlord name look to be , IMO ,  PSC kits up scaled  ( Uni Carrier , 251 , T-34s ? )

... Sherman V

[ripley]

Right the Sherman V , forgot about that one . I never picked up one of those , the kit my friend built  just  looked off  to me 

[jamesvalentine]

Except warlords Sherman is Plastic Soldier company.

[ultravanillasmurf]

Except warlords Sherman is Plastic Soldier company.

I am not sure what you are saying.

The Sherman (I) used in the comparison above is the Warlord/Italeri kit.


The Sherman V is the "it looks remarkably like the PSC kit" that Ripley and I were discussing.